The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-06-29
a Plea For Party UNITY.

EDITOR SOUTHERN SENTINEL: As the
time is approaching when the Democratic
Executive Committee of the county Is to
decide what course shall be pursued this
year to insure the usual Democratic ma
iority, l wish to say a few things IN the
nature of plea for harmony. And will
simply speak from the standpoint OF
private citizen and a lifelong Democrat.
The one thing needed just now above all
others is party unity. Concord in music
is not more essential in order to entertain
and delight the nearer, than Is harmony
in the body polite to insure the success OF
Democratic principles.
1t has ever been, and doubtless will con-
tinue TO be "that individual members
of the Democratic party differ one from
another, on minor questions and yet
have always come together as one man
when the great interests OF the party and
of the country were to be considered.
For Instance, there were in days past in
Mississippi bond-paying and anti-bond-
paying Democrats, Mississippi River Levee
and anti-Levee Democrats, States Rights
and Union Democrats, Democrats who
favored the election of all officers by the
people, and those who believed in judges
of courts being al pointed. Some were IN
favor of the Tippah County Agricultural
Association, then In existence here, and
some opposed it, Democrats who were
| Odd Fellows, Free Masons, and members
of other societies, while there were those
who were opposed to all such organiza-
tions; and finally some Democrats were
members of one religious denomination
and some of another. And yet when the
welfare of the county was to be considered
| politically, Democrats all rallied, | say, as
Zone man ;" held their conventions, max
ing mutual concessions Tor the good Of the
| whole; made nominations and elected
their standard-bearers.
In those good old days the State was
governed by such men as J. W. Matthews,
| A. q. Brown, jeff Davis, Jake Thompson
L. Q. c. Lamar and others and our coun-
ty by Joel II. Berry, John W Thompson
w. z. Cotton, j. q. Hamer I. c. Hind
man, W. K. Buchanan, W. q. Pyram, F
A. Wolfe, and others with Ii. W. Strick-
lin, Daniel Hunt, James Rogan, \. B
Leatherwood, J. F. Ford, J. E. Rogers
Nose McCarley and Others as our civil
officers. Then both State and county gov
ernments were administered economically
and everything worked smoothly.
Now, | want to ask if there Is any good
reason why a similar course might not b,
pursued at present? Certainly there /;
not.
1t is very true there are some minor
questions among the people now that Were
not, by name, at the time alluded to. But
! insist that there Is no more reason why
all Democrats should not come together
and unite upon some plan by which TO IN
sure the continuance of Democratic gov
eminent so auspiciously begun under Cleve
lands administration, than there was IN
| 4 Fr.,-,
fathers set US such noble examples.
As for the ''stock law" and liquor traffic
no one will say that there are not good men
and true Democrats on both sides of thest
questions and in reference to farmers
organizations, mechanical associations, etc.
nobody objects TO these. For one, l wish
that great good may be accomplished by
them. But in all candor, is this not NOR,
likely to be done under Democratic ad
J ministration than under Republican
rule?" Ii so does not both wisdom an,
patriotism suggest that course or polio,
which will most likely result in the success
of the Democracy?
Therefore, / say let all Democrats, re
CARELESS OF their views concerning tn,
various minor questions that now agitat
the people, more or less, initiate the ex
amples of our forefathers, and profit b
their conservatism and wisdom. Com
together in the true spirit of brotherhoo,
) and agree upon a primary election, o
, delegate convention, which ever may b
} thought fairest and best. for the purpos
OF selecting candidates at least for the Leg
J islature and District Attorney; and also,
} thought best, for all county Offices.
1t is a gratifying fact that whilst in
y few other States Democrats seem somewha
divided in regard to small matters, in TIA
. great majority of the States of the Unto
5 the only questions that enter into polite
, at all are Republicanism on the one han
D and Democratic government on The other
} One of these two National parties will b
) sure to rule this country for the next Pres
D idential term.
J With the facts of the past history c
, these two parties resting wildly upon ou
. minds without going into detailsj whic
one OF them should we be prepared to g
. with
Shall we bow to the scepter of Lor
1 Blaine or Fraud Sherman, with their higl
D tariff ideas, each of whom has given ur
} mistakable evidence OF hostility to tn
, South Both of these men have alread
} hoisted the 'bloody shirt" as the keynot
: of the Republican party in the next Presi
, Dental campaign.
l say, let the Democrats of Tjppah an,
of the whole State begin now to prepare t
2 march in solid phalanx under the gran
old Democratic banner, in the hands c
Cleveland and Lamar, in the year 1888.
Respectfully,
JNo. y. MURRY.